Bacteriophages attacking E. coli cell. 3D computer illustration of multiple T4 bacteriophage viruses (small) attacking an Escherichia coli bacteria cell (sausage-shaped). A bacteriophage,or phage,is a virus that infects bacteria. Enterobacteria T4 infects E. coli bacteria. It consists of an icosahedral (20-sided) head,which contains the genetic material,a tail (cylindrical) and tail fibres (leg-like). The tail fibres attach to the surface of the bacterium and the tail injects a DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) strand into the cell. The viral genetic material then hijacks the bacterium's own cellular machinery,forcing it to produce more copies of the bacteriophage. When a sufficient number have been produced,the phages burst out of the cell,killing it | |
Lizenzart: | Lizenzpflichtig |
Credit: | Science Photo Library / De Angelis, Maurizio |
Bildgröße: | 5000 px × 3750 px |
Modell-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Eigentums-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Restrictions: | - |